Safety device for wallets



S. ROTHSCHILD SAFETY DEVICE FOR WALLETS Sept. 9, 1952 Filed Jan. 12 1950 MW 0 .R m J Patented Sept. 9, 1952 UNITED STATE s rnrrzrir OFFICE 1 '1 SAFETY DEVICE FOR WALLETS Sam Rothschild, New York, N. Y. Application anuary 12, 1950, Serial No. 138,079

1 Claim. (01.150547) This invention relates to a safety tab for billfolds, Wallets and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety tab connected to a wallet which has a button hole openin therein or similar fastening means whereby the wallet, when located in a pocket, can be fastened to the button of the pocket in such a manner as to prevent a pickpocket from freeing the wallet from the pocket of the owner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a tab for a Wallet or the like means which will receive the tab in such a manner as to hold the wallet parts together while permitting the tab to be connected to the button of the pocket of the trousers.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a safety tab for pocket books, wallets and the like which is of simple construction, adds little expense to the cost of the pocket book or manufacture of the same, easily accessible, easily fastened to a fastening element on the trousers, convenient to use and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection I with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the owner of a pocket book having a trousers with a rear pocket to which a pocket book employing the safety tab of the present invention is attached.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken generally on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the pocket book or wallet in the open position and employing on an end thereof the securing safety tab of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a wallet or the like having a loop formation on the wallet into which the tab is extended whereby to keep the wallet portions together when in the pocket.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the wallet and of a tab connected to the same employing a snap fastener element instead of a button opening.

Referring now to the figures, l9 represents trousers having a rear hip pocket construction H with the usual button [2 serving normally to hold the pocket portionstogether, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The pocket H depends into the trousers and has a top slit opening I3.

According to the present invention, a foldable wallet or bill fold l4 having foldable portions is provided with a flexible and elongated tab l5 having a button hole 16 therein. When this wallet is inserted in the pocket II, the button l2 will be extended through the button hole H5 in the manner as shown in Fig. 2, so that the wallet will likewise be locked in the pocket the same as the pocket opening is locked by virtue of the button extending through the side wall of the pocket. The wallet is of the usual construction and may vary in shape or design. It will also be apparent that the tab can be connected to other forms of wallets or similar articles that need to be protected from one who picks pockets.

According to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a flexible elongated tab I5 having a button hole I6 therein is fastened to a free edge of one of the foldable portions of the wallet [4 as in thepreferred form of the invention and extends outwardly therefrom. A relatively short tab I1 is provided with a horizontal slot therein, as shown, and is fastened to the corresponding free edge of the other of said foldable portions of the wallet [4. The elongated tab I5 is tightly drawn or extended through the horizontal slot in the short tab I1 and is detachably fastened by means of its button hole 16 to the button I2 on the trousers hip pocket. I'his arrangement and construction not only draws the foldable portions of the wallet together while in the pocket to make the wallet more compact and less bulky but locks the wallet within the pocket.

In Fig. 6, there is shown a slightly different form of the invention wherein a snap fastener I3 is provided on the tab l9 instead of a button opening so as to be retained by a snap fastener element 2i provided on the pocket. To detach the wallet from the snap fastener element 2|, there would be a decided pull so as to warn the owner that his pocket was being picked. To detach the tab from the button l2 would similarly warn the owner.

It will be apparent that by the use of this tab or protecting device for pocket books, wallets and the like with their valuable contents will be protected against theft and loss by means of attaching one end of a tab or strap to the wallet.

If desired, a secret button can be provided in the pocket other than the button that holds the pocket parts together for the purpose of the attachment of the wallet thereto. Likewise, a snap fastener element can be provided secretly in .the pocket for the attachment of the snap fastener element l8 of the tab 19. The fastener element 2| can be located within the pocket to serve as a secret snap fastener for the purpose of securing the fastener element [8 of the tab [9 thereto. The snap 2| is secretly provided in the pocket I I.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

A Wallet or the like of a size adapted to be received by the hip pocket of a pair of trousers, said pocket having the usual button for closing the mouth thereof, said wallet comprising two foldable portions adapted to be folded together and having outer free edges lying adjacent each other when said portions are in folded position, a. flexible and elongated fastening tab secured'to one of said foldable portions adjacent its free outer edge and extending outwardly therefrom and provided with a button hole therein and a relatively short tab secured to the other foldable portion adjacent its free outer edge and provided with a horizontalslot therein, said elongated tab being adapted tob'e drawn through said slot to force said foldable portions towards each other SAM ROTHSCHILD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS v Number Name Date 1,298,278 "Bashinski Mar. 25, 1919 1,380,778 Oucinotta June 7, 1921 1,959,727 Martin May 22, 1934 2,072,352 Wyland Mar. 2, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 259,376 Germany May 3, 1913 3,918 Great Britain -'Feb. 16, 189.8 

